Employment and Volunteering
“At the moment only 3 in 10 autistic people of working age are in employment. This means that 7 in 10 of them are unable to access the independence and fulfilment that employment can bring. It also means that employers, and the wider economy, are missing out on the skills and energy that autistic people could be contributing, to the detriment of us all.” The Buckland Review of Autism Employment, February 2024.
At the West Cheshire Autism Hub, we celebrate the strengths and talents autistic people can bring to a workplace. We support autistic adults who are looking for work as well as those already employed, who may need help to advocate for their needs or ask for reasonable adjustments. We also signpost to local and national services who can help and advise members on disability and employment law.
Help to find employment
Supported Employment Service
Cheshire West and Chester council offer a Supported Employment Service aimed at helping adults aged over 18 years, with learning disabilities and/or autism find and sustain employment by building confidence, developing skills and matching these with job opportunities. The service, which follows the British Association of Supported Employment’s best practice approach, provides all the support needed to secure and sustain employment, including providing support for employers to create diverse and inclusive workplaces.
Find out more about the Supported Employment Service.
Supported Internships (16-24 years)
Supported internships are a structured, work-based study programme for 16- to 24-year-olds with SEND, who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. The core aim of a supported internship study programme is a substantial work placement, facilitated by the support of an expert job coach, within mainstream employment settings. There are often opportunities for young people without an EHCP too. Please contact Cheshire West & Chester Council Skills & Employment Service via The Hubs in Chester, Ellesmere Port or Winsford for more information.
Find out more about Supported Internships.
Diversity Jobs Group
Diversity Jobs Group is a suite of 10 job boards dedicated to promoting Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in hiring practices. They collaborate with companies that prioritise Diversity and Inclusion, connecting candidates with the right skill set to the right employers, regardless of their background.
Find out more about Diversity Jobs Group.
National Autistic Society Finding Employment e-learning Module
This free module from the National Autistic Society is designed to provide support for autistic jobseekers to find employment. It covers topics such as understanding your own strengths and abilities, creating a CV and preparing for interviews.
Reasonable Adjustments
We are often asked about reasonable adjustments. What are they? Am I entitled to ask for them? What should I ask for? How do I know what I need?
The Equality Act 2010 requires people and organisations to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to minimise the disadvantages that people with disabilities might face compared with their peers and this includes in employment settings.
This helpful document from Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust gives examples of adjustments that might help you and can be used as a template to ask for them.
Volunteering
A great way to learn new skills, get work experience and try out areas of employment you are interested in is to try volunteering.
Mentor & Grow project (West Cheshire Autism Hub)
Our Mentor and Grow scheme, funded by UKSPF through Cheshire West and Chester Council, is a project where the autistic community and their allies support autistic people, through volunteering. It has been running for over a year now and is going really well, building the skills and knowledge of autistic volunteers to meet the needs of the wider autistic community in West Cheshire.
The Bren Project
The Bren Project is a small, independent charity offering people with learning disabilities and autism the opportunity to experience supported, bespoke work placements in Chester and the surrounding area.
Other useful employment links.
If you need help to know what your rights are at work or to get advice on employment issues, the following services may be able to help.
